World Cup bargains for football fans as hotels slash pricesFootball fans are being offered World Cup bargains as hotels struggle to fill empty rooms ahead of the tournament which begins in just two months time.

By Daily Telegraph ReporterPublished: 6:33PM BST 03 May 2010

Hundreds of hotel owners in South Africa have reported a low uptake of accommodation and are desperately cutting prices in an attempt to get bookings before the 2010 Fifa World Cup kicks off on 11 June.

Dozens of bed and breakfast and hotel proprietors now seem set to miss out on the massive cash windfall predicted when the country became the first African host nation to be awarded the tournament in 2004.

Many spent thousands of pounds renovating their properties and are struggling to recoup the costs.

Thomas Cook has already slashed travel prices by more than £1,000 after only half the expected 500,000 fans booked flights to see matches live.

England’s World Cup bid begins on 12 June against USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

Muriel Vos, 57, spent £400,000 upgrading her 62 room property in Rustenburg, just 15 minutes from the city’s stadium, but has yet to receive a single booking.

Leon Pieterse, a 26-year-old general manager at the nearby upmarket Boschal guesthouse won an contract from MATCH – the FIFA selected company organising tickets, official accommodation and event information – to house fans, FIFA officials and staff.

But he received a huge blow when MATCH suddenly halved their booking on April 4, leaving him just over two months to fill his rooms.

Analysts believe many tourists have been put off by fears of violent crime and the economic recession.